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1/ This week saw a perfect, utterly depressing example of the brittle, angry, accusatory style of social media discourse bleeding into our offline world, in this instance, the chamber of the House of Commons.
2/ The reason social media is so important in politics is because it purports to approximate the vox populi. But it doesn’t. The notifications that flash up on MP’s screens are from folks engaged and motivated enough to get in touch.
3/ So they’re either laudatory – which are of course lovely to receive. Or horrible – which are not. This serves to normalise a sense among political and media classes that the nation is irrevocably polarised and split.
4/ But, for the main part, the tone of the Commons was unrepresentative of the mood or tone of conversations in real life about politics; conversations that are despondent, rather than seething with rage.
5/ It’s time we reject and push back on the bleeding of online discourse & mores into our offline world. That requires collective action. We’re not at the tipping point. But the water level is rising; if we don’t act, our democracy will be submerged in a tidal wave of hate.
6/ Let’s start by following the @CCDHate #DontFeedTheTrolls recommendations, and perhaps our political classes should take time out from social media to remember that most folks are pulling for them - all of them - to find a way out of this mire. 
7/ Full solidarity and strength to all those concerned for their own safety and that of their staff and families. Please know that most people stand with you; you are not alone and we admire your courage in speaking out.
8/ We can find a way back to decency in politics and our public realm. It is possible to reject and marginalise the voices of hate and division.
